Day one

Day one started with a lively skippers briefing with a lot of personal requests being made but all were knocked into the park (in the nicest possible manner) by the RO who had heard it all before. The regatta started with winds of 4.5 knots, increased to a maximum of 12 knots for the start of the second race dropping back to 5 knots by the finish. There was a 120 degree shift between race 1 and 2, then a shift back 90 degrees for the final race. This kept the committee boat busy and delayed the proceeding more than we would have liked but with radio contact describing the activities crews were kept fully informed while the changes were being made to the course.

With all crews having the ability to win races it could have been predicted that results would be a very mixed bag, and that is exactly what happened except that the ‘invited’ team from ‘somewhere’ managed to pull two bullets out of the hat. Was this because finally they were onboard their favourite boat, STINGRAY, at last. This boat had been very generously lent to the event organisers to assist the introduction of the Platu World Series. Thankyou to Tom Whitcraft. Other boats used by the organisers to allow this regatta to be possible, included 107,124 and 118 YRAT, FLS and K Suraporn.

Tired crews were brought off the water at about 15.00 hours to enjoy the sausage sizzle and beer provided by FLS.

Day two..

Day 2 did not have enough wind and so the AP ashore was applied. After 40 minutes there was enough wind,  8 knots and easily enough to race. The wind was not shifting and so we had two races to the same windward mark. After that the wind shifted 180 degrees and so the mark laying crew were kept busy laying new marks. A rain storm threatened with the wind increasing to 12 knots. Crews got wet but not damaged.  Four good races were able to be run and crews came off the water tired and wet at about 15.00 hrs.

Day three

And what a day it was. Very little wind and not enough to start a race for an hour. Even then the wind was light and shifty but as always this race officer would sooner see crews racing than sat waiting. The wind tried to spoil the party by providing big shifts very quickly and only providing 5 to 5.5 knots. Not exciting but just enough to race. Top marks were constantly moved and two races suffered 90 or even 180 degree shifts. With not enough time to change the course during 30 minute races crews had to contend with these shifts. In future we may need to make the races a bit longer and provide mark laying drivers who know what they are doing. That way we could change the course during a race.  However, good luck finally did prevail and the Medal race had winds of up to 12 knots from a constant direction and provided an exciting finale. Colin Simonds took advantage of the double points on offer and despite having to work very hard to keep Easy Tiger only a few meters behind him won the race and leapt up the leader board and into second overall. Easy tiger started the regatta slowly but as always the experience of this crew finally prevailed with two firsts and two seconds on the last day to finish winners of the very first World Series held here at Ocean Marina Jontiem. Rolf Heemskerk showed enough consistency to finish on the podium in third overall. The crew aboard the FLS Platu had a mixed regatta but the vast experience of the helm, Scott Duncanson showed flashes of brilliance to get a few good results. Our “invited” friend Sergei was more than capable of winning race but lacked consistency in spite of his entertaining conversations with his crew. Thankyou once again Sergei for supporting the racing here at OMJ.

At the final after race get together the staff of OMJ provided a great sausage sizzle with a few beers to wash it down. Scott Finsten handed out the awards and thanks were made to those who deserved them.

We wish all the crews a safe journey home and thank them for travelling so far to support this event.

A big thankyou to Scott Finsten and his staff. Without their magnificant support the Platu racing would not be the success it has been. The organisers have asked for many things during the year and Scott never hesitated to provide in spades.

Thanks to my good friend, Doug Smith, for all his background support throughout the past few years.

And a very big thankyou to K.Thammasak the joint R.O. His work on the committee boat kept the whole event possible. His job list has to be seen to be believed. Thankyou Zak.

Thanks to FLS for their financial input to increase awareness of the sport of sailing.

This was my last event as organiser. I have enjoyed the last few years but it is time for new blood and new ideas. I wish the Platu fleet ever more success in the future.

Results

Platu 027 Chris Way from Australia                      1.3.6.1.3.1.1.2.1.2.4  … 16 points   First

Platu 117  Sergei, our invited guest                        1.1.6.5.2.2.3.5.4.5.8  ….31 points

Platu 107  Colin Simonds from England              3.2.5.3.4.5.4.1.5.1.2 ….25 points   Second

Platu 154  Rolf Heemskerk from Malaysia          2.4.4.2.1.3.5.3.3.4.6 …28 points   Third

Platu 124  Doug Smith representing Thailand  4.3.6.4.5.4.2.4.2.3.12…38 points

Platu 118 Stellios Snoutsos from Greece              2.5.6.7.7.7.7.14.14.14.14 ..84 points

Interesting to note that without any drop scores the results would have been the same. Food for thought?

Kev Scott Ferret News 31st October 2023.